Chapter 201: The Pregnant Firebird (11)

Chapter 201: 201: The Pregnant Firebird (11)

The Crimson Sunwing remained still.

Lucard continued, "It needs a powerful source of energy to survive. I do not have anything suitable at the moment, and I cannot guarantee that it will hatch."

Elowen looked at him with surprise.

She had expected Lucard to comfort the dying bird, not explain the situation so directly.

But the Crimson Sunwing was an intelligent Seventh Rank beast.

Lucard believed it deserved to know the truth.

He placed his hand against the egg again.

"However, I have already agreed to take it. I will look for a way to strengthen its life force. Whether it survives afterward will depend on what I can find."

The Crimson Sunwing watched him.

Its eyes slowly moved toward the egg.

Then back to Lucard.

For several breaths, nothing happened.

Finally, the enormous bird lowered its head slightly.

It was a small movement, but Lucard understood.

The mother had accepted his answer.

He formed several thick blood threads beneath the egg and carefully lifted it from the ground. The threads formed a secure cradle around its lower half, keeping the shell steady without applying too much pressure.

Elowen immediately moved closer.

"Be careful. What if the shell breaks?"

Lucard glanced at her.

"Do you think a Seventh Rank beast egg will break because I lift it?"

"But it is already weak!"

"The creature inside is weak. The shell is not."

Cedric laughed quietly.

Elowen gave Lucard an annoyed look but did not argue further.

Lucard moved the egg onto a clean patch of stone nearby and lowered it carefully. He kept the blood cradle beneath it so the egg would not roll or touch the cold ground.

The golden patterns along the shell continued glowing faintly.

Lucard could still sense the weak heartbeat inside.

However, he also noticed something concerning.

The protective energy left by the mother was already being consumed to maintain the egg’s condition.

We need to find a suitable energy source before that protection disappears.

He could not afford to waste time.

But before he could think further, Elowen called him.

"Lucard..."

He turned.

The Crimson Sunwing’s breathing had become extremely slow.

Its enormous body lay motionless except for the small movements of its chest. The beautiful red feathers that had once burned with powerful flames had lost most of their light.

Only a few faint sparks remained along the edges of its wings.

Lucard approached its head again.

Cedric and Elowen followed him.

The mother had used almost everything she possessed to save her child. Even the energy that might have kept her alive for a little longer had been given to the egg.

There was nothing left for her to use.

Elowen crouched near the bird’s head.

"Your baby is safe with us," she whispered. "We will take good care of it."

The Crimson Sunwing slowly opened its eyes.

It looked at Elowen for a moment before turning toward Cedric.

Then its gaze settled on Lucard.

Lucard met its eyes. He could feel its final heartbeat approaching.

The enormous bird seemed to understand that its time was ending. It no longer struggled to move or release fire mana.

Instead, it looked toward the egg resting on the stone.

The golden patterns on the shell were still glowing.

For a brief moment, a faint warmth returned to the Crimson Sunwing’s eyes.

Then it looked at Lucard one final time.

Lucard remained silent.

He had seen countless deaths in his previous life. Powerful gods, ancient beasts, and entire armies had fallen before him. He had even watched members of his own blood race sacrifice themselves to protect their descendants.

He understood the instinct that drove a parent to protect its offspring.

Yet watching this creature use the last of its life to save an egg that might never hatch left him with an unfamiliar feeling.

He did not particularly like it.

"What a foolish bird. You should have escaped when you still had the chance."

But another thought followed.

"Then the egg would have died."

Lucard looked toward the shell again.

He could not deny that the mother’s decision had given its child one final opportunity to survive.

The Crimson Sunwing released a weak cry.

"Kreee..."

Its head slowly lowered. The final sparks along its feathers disappeared.

Lucard felt its heart beat once.

Then it stopped.

The enormous bird remained still.

The Crimson Sunwing was dead.

Elowen covered her mouth and began crying quietly. Cedric lowered his head, showing a rare moment of silence.

Lucard stood beside the bird without speaking.

After a while, Elowen wiped her tears.

"At least she knew her baby would not be left alone."

Cedric nodded.

"She fought until the end."

Lucard looked at the dead Crimson Sunwing before turning toward the egg.

"She also left us with a very expensive problem."

Cedric gave a small, helpless smile.

"You really do not know how to say something comforting, do you?"

"I am stating the truth."

Elowen stood and walked toward the egg.

She gently touched the warm shell.

"We will save it," she said.

Lucard approached from the other side and placed his palm against the crimson surface.

The heartbeat inside was still faint.

The mother’s protective energy was keeping it alive, but that protection would not last forever.

He looked toward the mountains in the distance.

Somewhere in this world, there had to be a treasure containing enough fire energy to save the creature.

Finding one would be difficult.

Getting it might be even harder.

Lucard sighed.

"Your mother was a troublesome creature. She fought a Seventh Rank monster, nearly destroyed half a mountain, and then gave me another problem before dying."

Elowen looked at him.

"Lucard!"

"What?"

"Do not speak badly about its mother!"

"I am speaking to an egg."

"It might hear you!"

Cedric laughed like an idiot.

Lucard stared at both of them before looking down at the shell.

For a moment, he wondered whether accepting the egg had been a mistake.

Then he felt the small heartbeat again.

"No. I have already accepted it."

He lightly tapped the shell with one finger.

"Listen carefully, little bird. Your mother went through a lot to keep you alive. I have no intention of wasting that effort."

The shell remained still.

Lucard continued, "So you had better survive until I find something strong enough to hatch you. I do not like losing valuable things."

Elowen smiled through her tears.

Cedric shook his head.

"Even when you are trying to be kind, you somehow make it sound like a business agreement."

Lucard ignored him. He kept his hand against the egg for another moment, feeling the weak life force inside.

The mother was gone.

But her child was still fighting to live.

And now, whether that small life would survive depended on him.